Best Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Portsmouth
Here, the Patch guide to St. Patrick's Day in Portsmouth, from the best Guinness pours to the most delicious Irish dinners.
Maybe you aren't as Irish as St. Patrick himself (who was kidnapped and sent to Ireland as a slave, escaped and returned to Ireland in 432, believing he had been called upon to spread the word of God) but on March 17, everyone's a little Irish.
So, check out these local St. Patrick's Day events, celebrations and places to toast with a little Guinness:
Bars/Restaurants
Events
St. Patrick's Lunch
Sunday, March 17th
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Barnabas Church Hall
TELL US: What are your St. Patrick's Day plans? Share with us in the comments below. And don't forget to upload a photo of you in your green attire!
In This article
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The Beach House
500 Park Ave, Portsmouth, RI -
Island Tap
568 Park Ave, Portsmouth, RI -
Fieldstones Grille
980 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI -
Valley Inn
2221 W Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI
The Shill
1:56 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
First of all it may surprise you to know that St. Patrick's Day was not traditionally celebrated in Ireland in the same way it is in America and we most definitely did not drink green beer.
St. Patrick's Day was first and foremost a religious celebration in the old country. The color most often associated with St. Patrick was blue which was also the color of the old Irish flag.
As for corned beef - well...the Irish never ate the stuff. Now, it has been pointed out to me that James Joyce mentions it in The Dubliners. That may be so, but Dublin city has always been culturally more English than Irish. Beef was corned in and around the Cork region of Ireland from the late 1600s ( when the English took control) to the early 1800s but this was almost exclusively for export to England and Europe and was not commonly eaten by the natives. In my experience most people in Ireland agree that corned beef first appeared in cans during the War and to my knowledge that is the only way it is still available there.
The true traditional meal would be bacon and cabbage.
The Shill
1:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Just so you won't forget, here is a little poem!
I just want to put something straight
About what should be on your plate,
If it's corned beef you're makin'
You're sadly mistaken,
That isn't what Irishmen ate.
If you ever go over the pond
You'll find it's of bacon they're fond,
All crispy and fried,
With some cabbage beside,
And a big scoop of praties beyond.
Your average Pat was a peasant
Who could not afford beef or pheasant.
On the end of his fork
Was a bit of salt pork,
As a change from potatoes 'twas pleasant.
This custom the Yanks have invented,
Is an error they've never repented,
But bacon's the stuff
That all Irishmen scoff,
With fried cabbage it is supplemented.
So please get it right this St. Paddy's.
Don't feed this old beef to your daddies.
It may be much flasher,
But a simple old rasher,
Is what you should eat with your tatties.
PamandTaffJones
2:33 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Like 'The Shill' poem:)
Although English, and never been to Ireland (on my bucket list), better half (Taff) has as worked on the boats to Ireland as a lad. Currently fairy cakes are in the over, in green paper cases, will be decorated with green shamrocks (if I can make them as couldn't find a cutter in the shops) tomorrow, and then given to the local Irish club or somewhere that's celebrating St Patrick's day. Picture of said cakes will be tweeted to @Cmdr_Hadfield in the Dragon currently flying in orbit. Sent him a few Irish songs today in preparation for tomorrow's celebrations. We have bought hat's from charity shop, and will get Taff to play some Irish songs on guitar and sing at home whilst he's supping Guinness before we try and find a pub to celerate. I'll be driving.
LOL
Pam
Twitter @pamandtaff :)
PS Have a fantastic time!